Best of Both Worlds: Museums, Libraries, and Archives in a Digital Age

The Smithsonian—the world’s largest museum and research complex, with collections numbering in excess of 137 million objects and specimens—has long experimented on the digital frontier.In his book, “Best of Both Worlds: Museums, Libraries, and Archives in a Digital Age,” G. Wayne Clough, the Smithsonian’s 12th Secretary, surveys the efforts of many world-class institutions, including his own, to use technology to open their collections and programs to the world. Secretary Clough’s thoughtful perspective as a museum leader, educator, and enthusiast provides invaluable insight into how digital technologies will radically alter our existing institutions, make access to their embedded knowledge widely available, and enable learning and research anytime, anywhere.http://www.si.edu/bestofbothworlds